Stephen Ted Okamoto

Stephen Ted Okamoto passed away peacefully in his home in the late evening of August 18, 2021. He was many things to many different people over the course of his 72 years, but his immediate family will remember him first and foremost as ‘Papa.’ His greatest joy was his grandchildren: Corey, Adam and Kamryn. Even as he dealt with challenging health issues in the last 13 years of his life, they were some of his happiest because of the time he spent with them. The family will always be grateful for the fact Steve was able to spend his final month at home amongst his loved ones.

Steve had an adventurous soul. He was born in North Platte, Nebraska in 1949 to Ted and Mary Okamoto. His childhood years were spent in St. Louis, Missouri. An avid fisherman, Steve enjoyed managing a fly-in fishing resort in British Columbia for several years.

He met his beloved wife, Kim, in 1981 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Together they raised three children: Jill, Brett, and Trevor and later added son-in-law, Jeff, and daughter-in-law, Jessica, to their family. Steve was a homebuilder, and built his family’s two main homes in Avon, Ohio and Windsor, Colorado. Steve always wanted to share his love of history and nature with his kids. The family spent many summers on the road in a big, white conversion van (usually with a pop-up camper trailing behind) visiting National Parks and historical monuments.

In 2001, Steve moved his family from Ohio to Colorado, which he’d planned for many years. He loved Colorado and being closer to his parents, who lived in Estes Park. Steve loved Colorado Rockies baseball, watching his kids play sports, and teasing his grandchildren. His guilty pleasure was sappy love movies on the Hallmark Channel. He cooked a mean seafood pasta.

Steve will be remembered for his generous heart. He was the one who always wanted to host the end of baseball season BBQ or church potluck. He’ll be remembered as a dreamer. He was constantly planning that next cross-country RV trip or fishing excursion to Alaska. And he’ll be remembered for his complete adoration of his kids and grandkids, all of whom he was fiercely proud of.

In lieu of a formal service, there will be a private celebration of Steve's life in the Rocky Mountains. Memorials in his honor may be sent to the Weld County Food Bank.